A Group Of Phage-like-particles In Three Subspecies Of Bacillus Thuringiensis And Bacillus Medusa

Phage-med-1, a phage-like-particle (approx. 22 nm in diameter) specifically found in stage II sporulating cells of B. medusa and initially reported as RNA containing was studied further. Similar particles, designated as (SLASHCIRC)isr-1, (SLASHCIRC)kyu-1 and (SLASHCIRC)10-2-1, were subsequently found in Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (serotype 14), B. thuringiensis subsp. kyushuensis (serotype 11) and B. thuringiensis isolate 73-E-10-2 (serotype 10). These strains share the unique character of producing solely ovoid or round parasporal crystalline inclusion (cry) toxic to mosquito larvae.;An improved purification enabled the phage-like-particles (PLP) close to homogenous to be isolated. Electron microscopic studies showed that all PLP were assembled at early stages of sporulation, while immunoprecipitation showed that at least in B. medusa and subsp. israelensis, the PLP proteins are synthesized at the times the PLP were assembled.;Acrystalliferous (cry(\u27-)) variants of subsp. israelensis isolated by a 42(DEGREES)C curing method were found to produce, upon sporulation, a satellite inclusion (sat) which was subsequently found in the wild type. Cry(\u27-)sat(\u27+) variants were (SLASHCIRC)isr-1 producing while cry(\u27-)sat(\u27-) variants were not. The latter strains also lacked a 68MDa plasmid of the wild type. A cry(\u27+)sat(\u27-) strain was (SLASHCIRC)isr-1 producing. Examination of transformed strains of a cry(\u27-)sat(\u27-) and plasmidless variant revealed that the sat(\u27+) and (SLASHCIRC)isr-1 producing characters could have been co-transformed in a recipient strain which had acquired the 68 MDa plasmid; likewise, the cry(\u27+) and (SLASHCIRC)isr-1 producing characters could have been co-transformed in a strain which had acquired the 75 MDa plasmid known to be associated with the synthesis of the crystal.;B. thuringiensis isolate 73-E-10-2 produced inclusions of varying size. The size distribution of the inclusions was influenced by the composition of the medium and the growth temperature. Inclusions prepared from cultures with higher number of small inclusions-producing cells have relatively less of a 25.5 K proteins and two smaller proteins. These inclusion preparations were also less toxic than those preparations with more of these three proteins. Variants producing solely small non-toxic inclusions lacking the above three proteins and a 140 K protein were devoid of (SLASHCIRC)10-2-1.;The results of this study indicated that the genes responsible for the syntheses of (SLASHCIRC)isr-1 and (SLASHCIRC)10-2-1 could be located on plasmids which also carried the genes determining the syntheses of components of the inclusions. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.

Not Just An Ankle Sprain

49-year-old male with past medical history of hypertension who presents to the sports medicine clinic with a five-year history of left lateral foot pain.https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/merf2020caserpt/1120/thumbnail.jp

Normalisation des systèmes et équipements médicaux et informationnels

Rapport de projet dirigé présenté à la Faculté de médecine, dans le programme de génie biomédical - option clinique, en vue de l'obtention du grade de Maîtrise en sciences appliquées (M.Sc. A.)Un projet servant à paver le chemin pour la fusion du service génie biomédical au service informatique au sein d'un établissement public de santé. Ce projet inclut des processus pour normaliser l'inventaire du parc d'équipements biomédicaux de l'hôpital, pour le rehaussement de ces systèmes le cas échéant et pour bonifier la collaboration entre ces deux domaines qui tendent à se réunir au fil de l'avancement technologique

Employing DDBPSK in optical burst switched systems to enhance throughput

We demonstrate that doubly differential decoding can demodulate phase shift keyed data much faster after the switching event of a tunable laser than usual mth power single differential decoding. This technique can significantly improve throughput of optical burst switched networks

CO2 concrete and its practical value utilising living lab methodologies

The sequestration of carbon dioxide into recycled aggregates for the enhancement of recycled aggregate concrete has provided an abundance of potential over recent years. The injection of carbon dioxide creates a strong concrete, known as CO2 Concrete, which can rival virgin aggregate concrete in overall performance. However, previous research only delves into small-scale testing. This paper demonstrates the potential for CO2 Concrete to be used in large-scale practical applications through living lab methodology. The compressive strength of CO2 Concrete offers great potential. After the carbon-conditioning of aggregate, the recycled aggregate concrete achieved the 95.1% strength when compared to the virgin aggregate concrete. Furthermore, it greatly surpassed the untreated recycled aggregate concrete which only exhibited a compressive strength of 64.76% when compared to the virgin aggregate concrete. This trend is also demonstrated by the two living lab projects. The living labs project consisted of two biosecurity platforms with a size of 780 mm long, 560 mm wide and 120 mm deep as well as four cattle drinking station slabs with a size of 3 m in length, 2.6 m in width and 0.2 m in thickness for agricultural use for Hawkesbury Campus, Western Sydney University. The biosecurity platforms are used for the cleaning of boots between paddocks in order to prevent the spread of disease whilst the slabs are utilised for the support of cattle drinking basins and to retain a desirable ground level, which would normally be eroded by cattle. The living labs achieved an outstanding 28-day compressive strength even surpassing virgin aggregate concrete on some occasions. The labs also demonstrated great durability. The employment of non-destructive testing shows the CO2 Concrete can preserve compressive strength under harsh agriculture conditions, which can include chemical attack, cattle movement and heavy machinery loading. After over a year and a half of practical application, the biosecurity platforms have not experienced depreciation according to the non-destructive testing. Visual inspections also reveal minimal degradation with only the sharp edges of the bio-security platforms rounding over after a year and a half. The overall performance of CO2 Concrete is outstanding and has the potential to replace the typical virgin aggregate concrete

Improving SAR image classification in tropical region through fusion with SPOT data

This paper investigates various SAR digital filtering techniques to remove speckles for image classification using fused SAR and SPOT XS image. The fused image classification is then compared with the classified SPOT XS image. The result has shown that the use of the Enhanced Frost digital filtering technique for SAR image and the fusion with SPOT XS gives a very similar classification with comparison to the SPOT XS image classification.</p

Eff ects of recurrent violence on post-traumatic stress disorder and severe distress in confl ict-aff ected Timor-Leste:a 6-year longitudinal study

Background Little is known about the eff ect of recurrent episodes of communal violence on mental health in countries recovering from mass confl ict. We report results of a 6-year longitudinal study in post-confl ict Timor-Leste assessing changes in mental health after a period of communal violence. Methods We assessed 1022 adults (600 from a rural village, 422 from an urban district) exposed to mass confl ict during the Indonesian occupation after independence in 2004, and again in 2010–11, following a period of internal confl ict. We took a census of all adults living at the two sites. The survey included measures of post-traumatic stress disorder, severe distress, traumatic events, poverty, ongoing confl ict, and injustice. Findings 1247 (80%) of 1554 invited adults participated in the baseline survey. 1038 (89% of those eligible) were followed up. The analysis included 1022 people who had suffi cient data at baseline and follow-up. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder increased from 23 of 1022 (2∙3%) in 2004, to 171 of 1022 (16∙7%) in 2010. The prevalence of severe distress also increased, from 57 of 1022 (5∙6%) in 2004, to 162 of 1022 (15∙9%) in 2010. Both these outcomes were associated with disability at follow-up. Having post-traumatic stress at follow-up was associated with being a woman (odds ratio [OR] 1·63, 95% CI 1∙14–2∙32), experience of human rights trauma (OR 1∙25, 95% CI 1∙07–1∙47), or exposure to murder (OR 1∙71, 95% CI 1∙38–2∙10) during the Indonesian occupation (1975–99), human rights trauma during the period of internal violence in 2006–07 (OR 1∙46, 95% CI 1∙04–2∙03), and ongoing family or community confl ict (OR 1∙80, 95% CI 1∙15–2∙80) or preoccupations with injustice for two or three historical periods (OR 4∙06, 2∙63–6∙28). Severe distress at follow-up was associated with health stress (OR 1∙47, 1∙14–1∙90), exposure to murder (OR 1∙57, 1∙27–1∙95), and natural disaster (OR 1∙65, 1∙03–2∙64) during the Indonesian occupation, confl ict-related trauma during the internal violence (OR 1∙33, 1∙02–1∙74), and ongoing poverty (OR 1∙53, 1∙36–1∙72) or preoccupations with injustice for two or three historical periods (OR 2∙09, 1∙25–3∙50). Interpretation Recurrent violence resulted in a major increase in post-traumatic stress disorder and severe distress in a community previously exposed to mass confl ict. Poverty, ongoing community tensions, and persisting feelings of injustice contributed to mental disorders. The fi ndings underscore the importance of preventing recurrent violence, alleviating poverty, and addressing injustices in countries emerging from confl ict

Cerebral monitoring with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography improves neurologic outcome during repairs of acute type A aortic dissection

ObjectiveNeurologic complications after repair of acute type A aortic dissection remain significant. The use of power M-mode transcranial Doppler monitoring to verify cerebral blood flow during these repairs might decrease cerebral ischemia by correcting malperfusion. The purpose of this study was to analyze the use of power M-mode transcranial Doppler monitoring during repairs of acute type A dissection with regard to neurologic outcome.MethodsWe performed a prospective study of patients undergoing repairs of acute type A aortic dissection. Repairs included profound hypothermic circulatory arrest and retrograde cerebral perfusion. Patients in whom transcranial Doppler monitoring was used to monitor cerebral blood flow and modify operative technique during repair (study group) were compared with those without monitoring and modification (control group).ResultsBetween September 2001 and October 2003, we repaired 56 cases of acute type A dissection. Power M-mode transcranial Doppler monitoring was used in 50% (28/56) of cases. Power M-mode transcranial Doppler monitoring altered operative cannulation and guided retrograde cerebral perfusion flow in 28.5% (8/28) and 78.6% (22/28) of cases, respectively. Two patients presented with preoperative stroke, one in each group. One operative death occurred in each group. In-hospital mortality and the occurrence of new stroke were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Temporary neurologic dysfunction occurred less often in the study group (14.8% [4/27] vs 51.8% [14/27], P = .008).ConclusionsIdentification of cerebral malperfusion requires cerebral monitoring. By ensuring cerebral blood flow by using power M-mode transcranial Doppler monitoring and correcting cerebral malperfusion by modifying operative technique, neurologic outcome was improved during repairs of acute type A aortic dissection